High speed communication jack

ABSTRACT

A high speed communication jack including a housing including a port for accepting a plug, the port including a plurality of pins each connected to a corresponding signal line in the plug and a shielding case surrounding the housing. A flexible circuit board between the shielding case and the housing having a substrate, a plurality of vias extending through the substrate with each via being configured to accommodate a pin on the housing, a plurality of traces on a first side of the substrate, with each trace extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of vias, and a shielding plane on a second side of the substrate opposite the first side of the substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/739,214, entitled “HIGH SPEED COMMUNICATIONJACK” filed on Jan. 11, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent App. No. 61/598,288 entitled “HIGH SPEED JACK” filed on Feb. 13,2012, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a network connection jack used toconnect a network cable to a device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

As electrical communication devices and their associated applicationsbecome more sophisticated and powerful, their ability to gather andshare information with other devices also becomes more important. Theproliferation of these intelligent, inter networked devices has resultedin a need for increasing data throughput capacity on the networks towhich they are connected to provide the improved data rates necessary tosatisfy this demand. As a result, existing communication protocolstandards are constantly improved or new ones created. Nearly all ofthese standards require or significantly benefit, directly orindirectly, from the communication of high-definition signals over wirednetworks. Transmission of these high definition signals, which may havemore bandwidth and, commensurately, higher frequency requirements, needto be supported in a consistent fashion. However, even as more recentversions of various standards provide for theoretically higher datarates or speeds, they are still speed limited by the current designs ofcertain physical components. Unfortunately, the design of such physicalcomponents is plagued by a lack of understanding of what is necessary toachieve consistent signal quality at multi-gigahertz and higherfrequencies.

For example, communication jacks are used in communication devices andequipment for the connection or coupling of cables that are used totransmit and receive the electrical signals that represent the databeing communicated. A registered jack (RJ) is a standardized physicalinterface for connecting telecommunications and data equipment. The RJstandardized physical interface includes both jack construction andwiring pattern. A commonly used RJ standardized physical interface fordata equipment is the RJ45 physical network interface, also referred toas an RJ45 jack. The RJ45 jack is widely used for local area networkssuch as those implementing the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE) 802.3 Ethernet protocol. The RJ45 jack is described invarious standards, including one that is promulgated by the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI)/Telecommunications IndustryAssociation (TIA) in ANSI/TIA-1096-A.

All electrical interface components, such as cables and jacks, includingthe RJ45 jack, not only resist the initial flow of electrical current,but also oppose any change to it. This property is referred to asreactance. Two relevant types of reactance are inductive reactance andcapacitive reactance. Inductive reactance may be created, for example,based on a movement of current through a cable that resists, whichcauses a magnetic field that induces a voltage in the cable. Capacitivereactance, on the other hand, is created by an electrostatic charge thatappears when electrons from two opposing surfaces are placed closetogether.

To reduce or avoid any degradation of transmitted signals, the variouscomponents of a communications circuit preferably have matchingimpedances. If not, a load with one impedance value will reflect or echopart of a signal being carried by a cable with a different impedancelevel, causing signal failures. For this reason, data communicationequipment designers and manufacturers, such as cable vendors, design andtest their cables to verify that impedance values, as well as resistanceand capacitance levels, of the cables comply with certain performanceparameters. The RJ45 jack is also a significant component in nearlyevery communications circuit, however, jack manufacturers have notprovided the same level of attention to its performance. Thus, althoughproblems related to existing RJ45 jacks are well documented in tests andtheir negative impact on high frequency signal lines is understood, theindustry seems reluctant to address the issues for this importantcomponent of the physical layer. Consequently, there is a need for animproved high speed communications jack.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one example, a high speed communication jack may include a housingincluding a port for accepting a plug. The port may include a pluralityof pins each connected to a corresponding signal line in the plug, ashielding case surrounding the housing, and a flexible circuit boardbetween the shielding case and the housing. The flexible circuit boardmay include a substrate, a plurality of vias extending through thesubstrate with each via being configured to accommodate a pin on thehousing, a plurality of traces on a first side of the substrate, witheach trace extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of vias,and a shielding plane on a second side of the substrate opposite thefirst side of the substrate.

In another example, when energized, each trace may be differentiallymatched to a second adjacent trace.

In another example, the impedance value a first trace in a matched pairof traces may be adjusted to be substantially equal to the impedancevalue of the second trace in the matched pair of traces.

In another example, a capacitor may be formed in each via by a tracelayer and a return signal layer embedded in a dielectric layer.

In another example, a distance between the return signal layer and thetrace layer may be adjusted such that the capacitor has a value ofbetween approximately 0.1 pF and approximately 0.5 pF.

In another example, the width, height or length of each trace in matchedset of traces may be adjusted such that the impedance of the first tracematches the impedance of the second trace.

In another example, a second return signal layer may be formed in thedielectric layer below the first return signal layer to form a secondcapacitor.

In another example, the distance between the first signal layer andsecond signal layer may be adjusted to adjust the value of the secondcapacitor between 0.1 pF and 0.5 pf.

In another example, the impedance of the first trace and second tracemay be adjusted such that the traces are matched when a first signal istransmitted on the first trace and a second signal is transmitted on thesecond trace.

In another example, the capacitor, trace and return signal layer mayform a common mode filter with the matched set of traces.

In another example, the value of the capacitor may be adjusted such thatthe common mode filter prevent reflections of signals from the matchedtraces.

In another example, a second shielding tab on a side of the substratemay be formed opposite the first shielding.

In another example, the traces may be plated in gold.

Another example may include a high speed communication jack comprising astandard RJ45 housing a housing including a port for accepting a plug,the port including a plurality of pins each connected to a correspondingsignal line in the plug. The jack may include a shielding casesurrounding the housing, and a flexible circuit board between theshielding case and the housing. The flexible circuit board may include asubstrate, a plurality of vias extending through the substrate with eachvia being configured to accommodate a pin on the housing, a plurality oftraces on a first side of the substrate, with each trace extending froma corresponding one of the plurality of vias, and a shielding plane on asecond side of the substrate opposite the first side of the substrate.

Another example may include a method of manufacturing a high speedcommunication jack using a standard RJ45 housing having a front surface,back surface, top surface, bottom surface, right surface and leftsurface, the housing including a plurality of pins each connected to acorresponding signal line in the plug. The method may include the stepsof forming a flexible circuit board having a substrate, a plurality ofvias extending through the substrate with each via being configured toaccommodate a pin on the housing, a plurality of traces on a first sideof the substrate, with each trace extending from a corresponding one ofthe plurality of vias, a shielding plane on a second side of thesubstrate opposite the first side of the substrate, and at least twoshielding tabs on opposite ends of the flexible circuit board andconnected to the electrical circuit board by a shielding trace.Inserting each via in the flexible circuit board into a correspondingpin in the housing. Bending the flexible circuit board such that aportion of the flexible circuit board having the vias is on the bottomsurface of the housing and is orthogonal to the portion of the flexiblecircuit board having the shielding plane that is on the back portion ofthe housing. Bending each shielding tab such that one shielding tab isin contact with the left side surface and one shielding tab is incontact with the right side surface of the housing, and forming ashielding case over the flexible circuit board and the housing such thatthe shielding case is in contact with each of the shielding tabs.

Another example may include a high speed communication jack having ahousing including a port for accepting a plug, the port including aplurality of pins each connected to a corresponding signal line in theplug, a shielding case surrounding the housing, and a multilayerflexible circuit board between the shielding case and the housing. Themultilayer flexible circuit board may include a first layer having aplurality of traces, with each trace extending from a corresponding oneof the plurality of vias, a second layer of a dielectric material on aside of the first layer opposite the traces, a third layer on a side ofthe second layer opposite the first layer and having a return plane madefrom a conductive material, a fourth layer on a side of the third layeropposite the second layer and made of a dielectric material, and a fifthlayer on a side of the fourth layer opposite the third layer and made ofa conductive material. A plurality of vias may extend through the first,second, third, fourth and fifth layers, with each via being configuredto accommodate a pin on the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a high speed communications jack configured inaccordance with one embodiment of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure that includes an RJ45 jack,

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective portion of a left side portionof the RJ45 jack of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom and right side view of a jack shield forproviding shielding for the RJ45 jack and the flexible printed circuitboard of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic representation of a top view of thefront surface of the printed circuit board of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment of a schematic representation ofa top view of the front surface of the printed circuit board of FIG. 1

FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic representation of a top view of the backsurface of the printed circuit board of FIG. 4,

FIG. 5B illustrates another embodiment of a schematic representation ofa top view of the back surface of the printed circuit board of FIG. 4

FIG. 6A illustrates a cross sectional view of the substrate of theprinted circuit board of FIG. 4 along line BB,

FIG. 6B illustrates a cross sectional view of a via in the printedcircuit board of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6C illustrates a cross sectional view of another example of a viain the printed circuit board of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation an RJ45 jack havingtransmit and receiving cable pairs matched and balanced to one another,

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a differentiallybalanced pair of signal lines,

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic representation of the process used todifferentially balance two traces in FIG. 4 based on a first signal anda second signal,

FIG. 10A illustrates a rear perspective view of the RJ45 jack of FIG. 1with the shield removed;

FIG. 10B illustrates a rear perspective view of another embodiment ofthe RJ45 jack of FIG. 1 with the shield removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1 illustrates a high speed communications jack configured inaccordance with one embodiment of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure that includes an RJ45 jack 110, a flexible printed circuitboard (PCB) 120, and a jack shield 130. As described herein, inaccordance with various aspects of this disclosure, the flexible PCB 120provides a balanced, radio frequency tuned circuit that may be directlysoldered onto each pin of the RJ45 jack 110, while the jack shield 130provides shielding for the RJ45 jack 110 and the flexible PCB 120, aswell as functioning as a chassis ground. In combination, the RJ45 jack110, the flexible PCB 120, and the jack shield 130 may providefunctionality similar to a tuned waveguide and a tube through whichcommunication signals may be transmitted, where an energy portion of thecommunication signal travels outside the tube through jack shield 130;and an information portion of the communication signal travels withinthe tube along the non-resistive gold wire; thereby allowing for highspeed data signal speeds to be obtained. For example, it is envisionedthat data speeds of 40 gigabits (Gbs) and beyond may be supported.

Although an RJ 45 communication jack is used below, the presentcommunication jack is not limited to RJ 45 communication jacks and maybe used in any type of high speed communication jack including, allclass of modular RJ type connectors, Universal Serial Bus (USB)connectors and jacks, Firewire (1394) connectors and jacks, HDMI(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connectors and jacks,D-subminiature type connectors and jacks, ribbon type connectors orjacks, or any other connector or jack receiving a high speedcommunication signal.

In various aspects of this disclosure, the various pins and tracesdisclosed herein may be composed of any suitable conductive elementssuch as gold, silver, or copper, or alloys and combinations of anysuitable conductive elements. For example, the set of pins and plugcontacts of the RJ45 jack 110 may include gold-plated copper pins orwires, while the set of traces of the flexible PCB 120 may includegold-plated copper paths. The gold plating is used to provide acorrosion-resistant electrically conductive layer on copper, which isnormally a material that oxidizes easily. Alternatively, a layer of asuitable barrier metal, such as nickel, may be deposited on the coppersubstrate before the gold plating is applied. The layer of nickel mayimprove the wear resistance of the gold plating by providing mechanicalbacking for the gold layer. The layer of nickel may also reduce theimpact of pores that may be present in the gold layer. At higherfrequencies, gold plating may not only reduce signal loss, but may alsoincrease the bandwidth from the skin effect where current density ishighest on the outside edges of a conductor. In contrast, use of nickelalone will result in signal degradation at higher frequencies due to thesame effect. Thus, higher speeds may not be achieved in RJ45 jacks thatuse nickel plating alone. For example, a pin or trace plated only innickel may have its useful signal length shortened as much as threetimes once signals enter the GHz range although some benefits of usinggold plating over the copper path has been described herein, otherconductive elements may be used to plate the copper paths. For example,platinum, which is also non-reactive but a good conductor, may be usedinstead of gold to plate the copper paths.

Each of the major components of the high speed communications jack,namely the RJ45 jack 110, the flexible printed circuit board (PCB) 120,and the jack shield 130 will be described briefly herein before adiscussion of how these components interoperate to achieve support forhigh speed communications is provided.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a front portion of theRJ45 jack 110 of FIG. 1, where it may be seen that a plug opening 230 isprovided for inserting a plug (not shown). The plug opening 230 may beconfigured to receive the plug to couple contacts on the plug to a setof plug contacts 212 in the RJ45 jack 110. The plug may be an RJ45 8Position 8 Contact (8P8C) modular plug. The set of plug contacts 212 areformed into a set of pins 210 configured to be attached to acommunication circuit on a circuit board. For example, the RJ45 jack 110may be mounted to a circuit board of a network switch device through theuse of a pair of posts 220, and then the set of pins 210 may be solderedonto respective contact pads on the circuit board of the device. Byitself, a jack similar to the RJ45 jack 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2provides basic connectivity between a plug of an RJ45 cable and thecircuit board of a device into which the jack is integrated. However,that jack is not designed to handle communication frequencies needed forhigh speed communications. The RJ45 jack 110, as configured inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosed approach as describedherein, may be integrated with other components such as the jackshielding 130 and the flexible PCB 120 so that it may be used tocommunicate at higher speeds without interference from transientsignals.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom and right side view of a jack shield forproviding shielding for the RJ45 jack 110 and the flexible PCB 120. Thejack shield 130 includes a top portion 302, a bottom portion 304, a backportion 306, a front portion 308, a left side portion (not shown butsubstantially identical to the right side portion) and a right sideportion 310. In order to provide desired shielding properties, in oneembodiment of the present disclosure the jack shield 130 may include aconductive material such as, but not limited to, steel, copper, or anyother conductive material. A pair of tabs 320 on both the right side 310and the left side (not shown) of the jack shield 130, near the bottomportion 304, may be used to ground and secure the jack shield 130 to acircuit board within a device (not shown). For example, the pair of tabs320 on the jack shield 130 may be inserted into a pair of matchedmounting holes on the circuit board, and soldered thereon.

FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic representation of a top view of thefront surface of the PCB 120 of the RJ45 jack. The PCB 120 includes amulti-layer substrate 402 made of a dielectric material incorporatingstrip-line flex or equivalent technology. The edge of the substrate 402is surrounded by a protective layer 404. The protective layer 404 ismade of a non-conducting material such as, but not limited to, plasticor a flexible solder mask. The front surface of the substrate 402includes a plurality of vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420made through the substrate 402. Each via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416,418 and 420 passes through the substrate 402 and is sized to accommodatea pin 210. The area surrounding each via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416,418 and 420 is coated with a conductive material, such as gold. Thecoating surrounding each via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420may be substantially square shaped or substantially rectangular shaped.In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 4B, the coating surrounding eachvia 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 may be substantiallycircular shaped. By making the coating circular shaped, the interferencebetween adjacent vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 isreduced.

A plurality of traces 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 extendfrom each via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 towards an endof the PCB 120. Each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 ismade from a conductive material including copper or gold. In oneembodiment, a nickel layer is formed on the substrate 402 and a goldlayer is formed on the nickel layer to form each trace 422, 424, 426,428, 430, 432, 434 and 436. Each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434and 436 extends towards a back end of the PCB 120 until the trace 422,424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 or 436 reaches a shielding trace layer 490near an edge of the PCB 120 opposite the vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414,416, 418 and 420. Each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436includes a first portion 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466 and 468adjacent to a second portion 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482 and 484with each second portion 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482 and 484extending to the shielding trace layer 490 without contacting theshielding trace layer 490. Each first portion 454, 456, 458, 460, 462,464, 466 and 468 tapers from the respective second portion 470, 472,474, 476, 478, 480, 482 and 484 towards a respective via 406, 408, 410,412, 414, 416, 418 or 420. Each second portion 470, 472, 474, 476, 478,480, 482 and 484 has a length that varies depending on the trace 422,424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 or 436.

Two shielding tabs 486 and 488 are positioned on opposite edges of thePCB 120. Each shielding tab 486 and 488 is made of a substrate coveredin a conductive material for example, gold or copper. The shielding tabs486 and 488 are electrically connected by the shield trace layer 490 onthe substrate 402 that extends between the shielding tabs 486 and 488and is positioned between the second portions 470, 472, 474, 476, 478,480, 482 and 484 of each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436and the edge of the PCB 120 opposite the vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414,416, 418 and 420.

FIG. 5A illustrates a schematic representation of a top view of the backsurface of the printed circuit board of FIG. 4A. The back surfaceincludes the vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420, theshielding tabs 486 and 488, and a shielding trace layer 502 extendingbetween the back surfaces of each shielding tab 486 and 488. Theshielding trace layer 502 covers the portion of the back surface of thePCB 120 between the shielding tabs 486 and 488. The shielding tabs 486and 488 include return vias 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516 and 518which pass through the substrate 402 connecting the shielding tracelayer 490 and the shielding trace layer 502. FIG. 5B depicts anotherembodiment of a top view of the back surface of the printed circuitboard of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6A illustrates a cross-section view of the multi-layer substrate402 in the PCB 120 along line BB of FIG. 4. A first layer 602 of themulti-layer substrate 402 includes a solder mask portion, made from amaterial such as PSR9000FST Flexible Solder Mask. A second layer 604 isformed under the top layer and includes each of the traces 422, 424,426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436. Each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430,432, 434 and 436 has a length (L), a height (H) and a width (W), and isseparated from an adjacent trace by a distance (S). The length (L) ofeach trace is the length the trace extends along the surface of theflexible circuit board 120 from the edge of its respective via 406, 408,410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 to shielding trace layer 490.

Each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 extends through thefirst layer 602 such that each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434and 436 is not covered by the flexible solder mask. Shield trace layer490 is also formed over a portion of the second layer 604 with theshield trace layer 490 extending through the first layer 602. A thirddielectric layer 606 is formed below the second layer 604 The thirdlayer 606 has a depth (D) of between approximately 0.002 mils toapproximately 0.005 mils, and is made from a material having adielectric constant greater than 3.0 such as, but not limited to ROXT8100, Rogerson Material, or any other material capable of isolating ahigh frequency electrical signal.

A fourth layer 608 is formed below the third layer 606 with the fourthlayer 608 including a signal return portion and a shield trace portion502. Both the signal return portion and the shield trace portion 502 aremade of a conductive material, preferably gold or copper. A fifth layer610 is formed on the forth layer 608 with the fifth layer 610 having aflexible solder mask portion and a shielding trace layer 502 portion.The flexible solder mask portion is manufactured of the same material asthe flexible solder mask portion of the first layer 602. In an alternateexample, the flexible solder mask portion is made from a differentmaterial than the flexible solder mask in the first layer 602. In analternate example, a second signal return layer (not shown) may bepositioned in the dielectric material.

To eliminate crosstalk caused by adjacent traces, each trace 422, 424,426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 is electrically coupled to an adjacenttrace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436. As an illustrativeexample, trace 422 may be coupled to trace 424. During operation, afirst signal is transmitted down a first trace and an identical signalhaving an opposite polarity is transmitted down the matched tracethereby differentially coupling the traces together. Because the tracesare differentially coupled together, the impedance of each tracedetermines how the trace is driven. Accordingly, the impedance of eachset of matched trace should be substantially equal.

The physical characteristics of each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432,434 and 436 in a matched set of traces are adjusted to balance theimpedance between the matched traces for the transmission and returnsignals transmitted over each trace. The impedance of each trace 422,424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 is adjusted by adjusting any one ora combination of the length (L), width (W), height (H) of each trace andthe spacing (S) between the matched traces for each signal transmittedthrough each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436. The height(H) of each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 may bebetween approximately 2 mils and approximately 6 mils, and the spacing(S) between adjacent traces 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436may be between approximately 3 mils and approximately 10 mils.

Returning to FIG. 4, each trace has a variable width in the firstportion 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466 and 468 and a substantiallyconstant width in the second portion 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480 and482. Accordingly, the width of each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432,434 and 436 is adjusted in either the first portion 454, 456, 458, 460,462, 464, 466 and 468 or the second portion 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480and 482, or in both the first portion 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466and 468 and the second portion to 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480 and 482along with the height H of the trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434and 436, such that each trace in a matched set has substantially thesame impedance when the matched traces are separated by a distance S.

Due to inconsistencies in manufacturing and materials, the signal driventhrough each set of differentially matched traces 422, 424, 426, 428,430, 432, 434 and 436 may not be identical, which causes a portion ofthe signal to reflect back causing common mode interference. Toeliminate any common mode interference, each trace 422, 424, 426, 428,430, 432, 434 or 436 in a matched set of traces includes a common modefilter that is tuned to eliminate any common mode interference in thematched set. Each filter is comprised of a capacitor formed by the via406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 or 420 of each trace 422, 424, 426,428, 430, 432, 434 or 436 and the fourth layer 608 of the multi-layersubstrate 402. Each via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420includes a layer of conductive material, such as gold or copper, formedaround the periphery the via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420on the second layer 604 and fourth layer 608 of the substrate 402. Theconductive material on the first layer 602 is connected to the trace422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 or 436 associated with the via 406,408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 and the conductive material on thefourth layer 608 is connected to the signal return portion of the fourthlayer 608. The size of each capacitor is determined by the distancebetween the conductive material on the second layer 604 and the fourthlayer 608. Accordingly, adjusting the depth of the third layer 606 inrelation to the conductive material on the vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414,416, 418 and 420, allows for the capacitive effect of each via 406, 408,410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 to be adjusted. The capacitors createdby the via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 and return portionof the fourth layer 608 are sized between approximately 0.1 picofarads(pf) to approximately 0.5 pf. The top and bottom surfaces of thesubstrate 402 may be covered in a plastic insulating layer to furtherenhance the operation of the circuit.

The combination of the capacitor created in each via 406, 408, 410, 412,414, 416, 418 and 420 and the characteristic inductance of the signalreturn layer creates a common mode filter for each trace 422, 424, 426,428, 430, 432, 434 or 436. By adjusting the capacitive value of eachcapacitor based on the impedance of the trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430,432, 434 and 436, common mode noise is greater reduced, therebyimproving the signal throughput on each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430,432, 434 and 436.

FIG. 6B illustrates a schematic representation of a cross sectional viewof a via 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 or 420. Each via 406, 408,410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 is formed through the first layer 602,second layer, 604, third layer 606, fourth layer 608 and fifth layer610. The second layer 604 is made of a conductive material, such as goldor copper and surrounds the circumference of each via 406, 408, 410,412, 414, 416, 418 and 420. The second layer 604 also connects each via406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420 to its respective trace 422,424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 or 436. The third layer 606 acts as adielectric layer as described in FIG. 6A. The fourth layer 608 is formedin the third layer 606 and acts as a signal return layer. The fifthlayer 610 is also made from a conductive material such as copper orgold, and also surrounds the circumference of the via in the same manneras the second layer 602. A sealing layer (not shown) may also be formedover the fifth layer 610.

The fourth layer 608 is separated from the second layer 604 by adistance D1 and from the fifth layer 610 by a second distance D2. Thecombination of the second layer 604, third dielectric layer 606, and thefourth return signal layer 608 creates a capacitor having a capacitivevalue of between approximately 0.1 pf and 0.5 pf. By adjusting thedistance D1 of the fourth layer 608 from the second layer 604, thecapacitive value of the via capacitor is adjusted. Because the viaconnects its associated trace with the fourth return signal layer 608,the combination of second layer 604, the third dielectric layer 606, andthe fourth return signal layer 608 forms a common mode filter thatremoves any interference caused by signal reflection resulting fromimperfections in the manufacturing process. By adjusting the capacitivevalue of the via capacitor the common mode filter may be tuned toeliminate substantially all signal noise caused by reflection of thetransmission or return signal.

FIG. 6C illustrates another example of cross sectional view of a via406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420. A second return signal layer612 is added to the third layer 606 between the first return signallayer 608 and the fifth layer 610. The second return signal layer 612runs parallel to the first signal layer 608 and enhances the filteringeffect of the common mode filter. By adjusting a distance D3 between thefirst return signal layer 608 and the second return signal layer 612, asecond capacitor formed by the first return signal layer 608, thirdlayer 606 and second return signal layer 612 is created in the via. Byadjusting the distance D3, the value of the second via capacitor may beadjusted to enhance the operation of the common mode filter. Further, asthe inventors have learned, forming a second capacitor in the via allowsfor matching of traces on separate ends of the PCB 102. As anillustrative example, trace 422 may be matched with trace 436.Accordingly, by forming the second capacitor, pairs of signal linespositioned in accordance with the RJ 45 standard can be achieved.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation an RJ 45 jack havingmatched transmit and receive traces. By adjusting the height H, width W,and length L of each trace 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 or 436transmit and a receive lines can be impedance matched. To enhance theoperation of the jack, identical high frequency signals having oppositepolarities are transmitted down each pair. Because the matched tracesare coupled via the shield, the pairs act as common mode filters foreach other. Also, if one signal cannot be delivered, the correspondingopposite signal line will deliver the identical signal. Because thematched traces act as filters coupled to the shield, noise caused byhigh bandwidth transmission are filtered out from the signal. Further,because the transmit line is matched with the receive line, filtering ofthe signal is performed with greater accuracy because the referencepoint for the filters is the signal itself, opposed to being a groundconnection.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a differentiallybalanced pair of signal lines. As the figure depicts, thecharacteristics of each trace is adjusted such that the impedance of afirst trace is matched to the impedance of the second trace using themethods previously discussed. Further, the capacitors formed in each viaform a common mode filter with a return signal line embedded in the PCB120. By differentially balancing two traces during transmission of boththe transmission and response signals, a fully balanced two waycommunication circuit is achieved.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic representation of a method of balancingmatched traces for a transmission and return signal. In step 902,physical characteristics of each trace in a matched pair of traces areadjusted such that the impedance of the traces are substantially equal.The physical characteristics may include the height, length and width ofeach trace and the distance separating each trace in the matched set oftraces. In step 904, a first signal having a first polarity istransmitted down the first trace in the match set traces. The firstsignal may be a high frequency communication signal operating at afrequency greater then 10 gigahertz (“GHz”). In step 906, a secondsignal substantially identical to the first signal and having a polarityopposite to the polarity of the first signal is transmitted on thesecond trace of the match set of traces simultaneously with the firstsignal. In step 908, the first signal is measured at the generation andtermination end of the trace, and the two measurements are compared todetermine the amount of data lost along the length of the trace. In step910, at least one physical characteristic of the first trace or secondtrace is adjusted based on the amount of signal loss measured. Theprocess may return to step 904 until the amount of signal loss is lessthan approximately 10 decibels (“db”).

In step 912, a third signal is transmitted on the second trace of thematched set of traces. In step 914, a fourth signal substantiallyidentical to the third signal but having a polarity opposite thepolarity of the third signal is transmitted on the first trace. In step916, the third signal is measured at the generation and termination endof the trace, and the two measurements are compared to determine theamount of data lost along the length of the trace. In step 918, at leastone physical characteristic of the first trace or second trace isadjusted based on the amount of signal loss measured. The process mayreturn to step 912 until the amount of signal loss is less thanapproximately 10 decibels (“db”). In another example, the process mayreturn to step 904 to confirm the signal loss of the first signal is notaffected by the adjustments made in response to the third signal loss.

FIG. 10 illustrates the PCB 120 positioned in the jack 110. Thesubstrate 402 of the PCB 120 is made from a flexible material thatallows a first portion of the PCB 120 to be oriented to a second portionof the PCB 120 by approximately a 90 degree angle. Accordingly, the PCB120 is bent such that the vias 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418 and 420are positioned over the pins 210 in the jack, and the traces 422, 424,426, 428, 430, 432, 434 and 436 extend from the vias 406, 408, 410, 412,414, 416, 418 and 420 to the contact pads for the jack. The shieldingtabs 486 and 488 are bent such that they are at approximately a 90degree angle from the PCB 120. The shielding tabs 486 and 488 arepositioned along the side of the jack such that the jack shield 130 ofthe jack engages the shielding tabs 486 and 488.

The flexible PCB 120 may be implemented using any flexible plasticsubstrates that enable the flexible PCB 120 to bend. As describedherein, the flexible PCB 120 may flex or bend to conform to the existingform factor of the RJ45 jack 110 and be shielded by the jack shielding130. For example, the flexible PCB 120 may be attached to the RJ45 jack110, placed between the RJ45 jack 110 and the jack shield 130. Theflexible PCB 120 shielding tabs 486 and 488 may be attached to the jackshield 130 to provide a common connection to the flex circuit on theflexible PCB 120. The set of pins 210 of the RJ45 jack 110 may then beelectrically coupled to a circuit board of a device in which the RJ45jack 110 is used.

The flexible PCB 120 may be configured to fold and conform to the shapeof the RJ45 jack 110 for better fit into an existing enclosure such asthe jack shield 130. For example, in one aspect of the disclosedapproach, the flexible PCB 120 bends at an approximately 90 degree angletowards a middle section of the flexible PCB 120, to fold into the jackshield 130. The shielding tabs 486 and 488 of the flexible PCB 120 arefolded onto and contacting the jack shield 130, may be soldered tosecure the flexible PCB 120 to the jack shield 130. Those skilled in theart will recognize that the orientation of the flexible PCB 120 withrespect to the RJ45 jack 110 within the jack shield 130 may vary inaccordance with various aspects of the disclosure. For example, theflexible PCB 120 may be sufficiently thin to flex and fold into othersides of the jack shield 130. The flexible PCB 120 may be shaped to lieentirely along the bottom section 304 of the jack shield 130 withoutneeding to flex or bend into the jack shield 130.

The preceding detailed description is merely some examples andembodiments of the present disclosure and that numerous changes to thedisclose embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosureherein without departing from its spirit or scope. The precedingdescription, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of thedisclosure but to provide sufficient disclosure to one of ordinary skillin the art to practice the invention with undue burden.

1. A high speed communication jack including: a housing including a portfor accepting a plug, the port including a plurality of pins eachconnected to a corresponding signal line in the plug; a shielding casesurrounding the housing; a flexible circuit board between the shieldingcase and the housing having a substrate, a plurality of vias extendingthrough the substrate with each via being configured to accommodate apin on the housing, a plurality of traces on a first side of thesubstrate, with each trace extending from a corresponding one of theplurality of vias, and a shielding plane on a second side of thesubstrate opposite the first side of the substrate.
 2. The jack of claim1 wherein, when energized, each trace of the plurality of traces isdifferentially matched to a second adjacent trace of the plurality oftraces.
 3. The jack of claim 2 wherein the impedance value of a firsttrace in a matched pair of traces is adjusted to be substantially equalto the impedance value of the second trace in the matched pair oftraces.
 4. The jack of claim 1 wherein a capacitor is formed in each viaby a trace layer and a return signal layer embedded in a dielectriclayer.
 5. The jack of claim 4 wherein a distance between the returnsignal layer and the trace layer is adjusted such that the capacitor hasa value of between approximately 0.1 pf and approximately 0.5 pf.
 6. Thejack of claim 3 wherein the width, height or length of each trace inmatched set of traces is adjusted such that the impedance of the firsttrace matches the impedance of the second trace.
 7. The jack of claim 4wherein a second return signal layer is formed in the dielectric layerbelow the first return signal layer to form a second capacitor.
 8. Thejack of claim 7 wherein the distance between the first signal layer andsecond signal layer is adjusted to adjust the value of the secondcapacitor between 0.1 pf and 0.5 pf.
 9. The jack of claim 3 wherein theimpedance of the first trace and second trace are adjusted such that thetraces are matched when a first signal is transmitted on the first traceand a second signal is transmitted on the second trace.
 10. The jack ofclaim 4 wherein the capacitor, trace and return signal layer form acommon mode filter with the matched set of traces.
 11. The jack of claim10 wherein the value of the capacitor is adjusted such that the commonmode filter prevents reflections of signals from the matched traces. 12.The jack of claim 11 including a second shielding tab on a side of thesubstrate opposite the first shielding.
 13. The jack of claim 1 whereinthe traces are plated in gold.
 14. The jack of claim 1, wherein thesubstrate includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constantgreater than 3.0.
 15. A high speed communication jack comprising astandard RJ45 housing having a port for accepting a plug, the portincluding a plurality of pins connected to a corresponding signal linein the plug, the jack comprising: a shielding case surrounding thehousing a flexible circuit board between the shielding case and thehousing having a substrate, a plurality of vias extending through thesubstrate with each via being configured to accommodate a pin on thehousing, a plurality of traces on a first side of the substrate, witheach trace extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of vias,and a shielding plane on a second side of the substrate opposite thefirst side of the substrate.
 16. A method of manufacturing a high speedcommunication jack using a standard RJ45 housing having a front surface,back surface, top surface, bottom surface, right surface and leftsurface, the housing including a plurality of pins each connected to acorresponding signal line in the plug, the method including the stepsof: forming a flexible circuit board having a substrate, a plurality ofvias extending through the substrate with each via being configured toaccommodate a pin on the housing, a plurality of traces on a first sideof the substrate, with each trace extending from a corresponding one ofthe plurality of vias, a shielding plane on a second side of thesubstrate opposite the first side of the substrate, and at least twoshielding tabs on opposite ends of the flexible circuit board andconnected to the electrical circuit board by a shielding trace,inserting each via in the flexible circuit board into a correspondingpin in the housing; bending the flexible circuit board such that aportion of the flexible circuit board having the vias is on the bottomsurface of the housing and is orthogonal to the portion of the flexiblecircuit board having the shielding plane that is on the back portion ofthe housing; bending each shielding tab such that they one shielding tabis in contact with the left side surface and one shielding tab is incontact with the right side surface of the housing; and forming ashielding case over the flexible circuit board and the housing such thatthe shielding case is in contact with each of the shielding tabs.
 17. Ahigh speed communication jack including: a housing including a port foraccepting a plug, the port including a plurality of pins each connectedto a corresponding signal line in the plug; a shielding case surroundingthe housing a multilayer flexible circuit board between the shieldingcase and the housing having a first layer having a plurality of traces,a second layer of a dielectric material on a side of the first layeropposite the traces, a third layer on a side of the second layeropposite the first layer and having a return plane made from aconductive material; a fourth layer on a side of the third layeropposite the second layer and made of a dielectric material; a fifthlayer on a side of the fourth layer opposite the third layer and made ofa conductive material; a plurality of vias extending through the first,second, third, fourth and fifth layers, with each via being configuredto accommodate a pin on the housing.
 18. The jack of claim 17 wherein acapacitor is formed in each via by the combination of one of theplurality of traces on the first layer, the second layer and the thirdlayer.
 19. The jack of claim 18 wherein the depth of the second layer isadjusted such that the capacitor in each via has a value of betweenapproximately 0.1 pf and approximately 0.5 pf.
 20. The jack of claim 17including a sixth layer formed between the fourth layer and fifth layer,with the sixth layer being made of a conductive material, and a seventhlayer formed between the sixth layer and the fifth layer, with theseventh layer being made of a dielectric material.